Plenty of civic minded residents are still lamenting the demolition of the iconic Bob Ingham mansion on the Hume Highway at Casula.
But not as much as Glen op den Brouw, the long time keeper of the flame at the Liverpool Historical Society.
“We keep on losing our traditional institutions, our history is being erased,’’ he said in an emotional note he sent to the South West Voice a few days ago.
“The Liverpool Swim club has folded after 60 years and cabinets of trophies. The Ingham mansion, the Liverpool scouts hall, the Trash and Treasure taj mahal, the Geoghegan house, all gone.
“And for the first time in living memory, Liverpool Council did absolutely nothing for the city birthday on 7 November. Not even a Facebook post,’’ Glen wrote.
“As for the Ingham mansion – personally, I’m devastated at its destruction and disappointment that it could not have been incorporated in whatever development that will replace it.
“The community outrage on Facebook reflects how dear people held this magnificent mansion, by far the most impressive and one of the most important properties in the whole LGA.
“How many Liverpool people made the top 100 rich list?
“And their legacy of the Ingham institute for cancer research let alone their chicken empire which changed the way people eat chicken on a regular basis.
“And the horse racing industry.
“That the current acting council CEO says it’s of no heritage value beggars belief!’’
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The Great Wall of China pales into insignificance when compared with the enormous barriers put up by bureaucrats to stop the public from knowing anything, as one of our readers found out recently.
After driving along Picton Road and noticing that several sections of the koala fencing had been flattened by vehicle impact, tree branches, and wind, the reader contacted Transport for NSW to report the situation.
“Vegetation is growing on and through it. Terrible state,’’ the reader told us.
“I reported that it was damaged by emailing them, but they wanted photos and exact location and referred me to the website.’’
No surprises there whatsoever, but it got worse because on the website the department has posted the standard to which they are supposed to inspect and maintain the koala fence.
Well, the “standard’’ explanation was as clear as mud – another traditional cunning bureaucratic wall around their empires.
Our reader told us that from their “non-expert reading of it’’, the inspection frequency is two years or event based as required, such as bad weather.
“That’s not going to keep a fauna fence fauna proof,’’ commented the reader, who also made another valid point:
“The government continues to use koala fencing as their go-to for ‘fixing’ the koala problem, but the ongoing cost of maintaining this type of fencing is huge. But it’s not worthwhile unless it remains koala proof.’’
Wollondilly Council were a little more forthcoming when we contacted them, informing us that the koala fencing had been installed by the NSW Government and that TfNSW would be responsible for maintenance along Picton Road.
Council also offered to check with their environment staff if they are aware of any damage.
Which at least proved that some bureaucracies are much worse than others.
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Older readers may remember Michael Knight, the extremely tall and gangly former state member for Campbelltown.
Knight’s fame rose to the stratosphere when he was appointed Sydney 2000 Olympic Games tsar, and he delivered in spades.
After 20 years in politics, six as a minister, Knight gave it away to work in the private sector.
Last week we were interested to hear that Michael Knight had been appointed to the office of the Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration Tribunal for a term of three years starting on November 13.
Th tribunal is responsible for determining the remuneration for judicial office holders, court and related office holders, public office holders and public service senior executives.
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The Bangladeshi flag will be flying high at the Campbelltown Council Civic Centre on February 21 next year to mark International Mother Language Day.
Council approved the proposal at its last meeting after what can at best be described as a robust discussion.
The notice of motion was tabled by councillors Masud Khalil and Masood Chowdhury.
Three councillors voted against it when it was put to the vote; Adam Zahra, Seta Berbari and Josh Cotter.
The proposal approved reads:
1. That Council endorses the raising of the Bangladeshi flag in honour of those who sacrificed and advocated for the protection of their language.
2. That the Mayor host a Civic Event for the flag raising ceremony to be held on 21 February 2025.
